Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Because these phrases of speech seem harsh and tart; some think the unfaithful are here brought in murmuring against God, and blaspheming him: for their malice turns into rage, when they have lost all hope. But the scope of the text crosseth this conceit. For the Prophet shows the fruit which should proceed from these miseries and calamities of the Jews. How? Because being humbled and brought low, they should cease either to be proud, or to please themselves in their vices. They were ashamed then that in times past they had erred so far out of the right way, and acknowledge their own offences. And to say the truth, when they attribute their sins to the wrath of God, their meaning is not to exempt themselves from blame, nor to abolish their faults.

BEcause these phrases of speech seeme harsh and tart; some thinke the vnfaithfull are here brought in murmuring against God, and blaspheming him: for their malice turnes into rage, whē they haue lost all hope. But the scope of the text crosseth this conceit. For the Prophet shewes the fruit which should proceed from these miseries and calamities of the Iewes. How? Because being humbled and brought low, they should cease either to be proud, or to please themselues in their vices. They were ashamed then that in times past they had erred so farre out of the right way, and acknowledge their owne offences. And to say the truth, vvhen they attribute their sinnes to the vvrath of God, their meaning is not to exempt themselues from blame, nor to abolish their faults.

But the Prophet useth a phrase of speech very ordinary. For the holy Ghost is wont to say, that God causeth men to err, hardens, and gives men up into a reprobate mind: 2. Thes. 2.11. Rom. 9.18. and 1.28. Now when the faithful speak thus, they mean nothing less then to make God the author of evil, and of sin, as if themselves were innocent; or as if they meant to extenuate their crime. But they aim at an higher market, and rather confess that their sins have separated them from God, and is the cause why they are left destitute of his holy Spirit. Yea, that thence is came to pass, that they have been plunged into infinite miseries.